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IF30, and how to install, configure, operate, maintain, and troubleshoot it. Before you work with the IF30, you should be familiar with your network and general networking terms, such as IP address. You should also be familiar with your RFID system.
Getting Started This chapter introduces the IF30 Fixed Reader. It explains the ports and LEDs, and explains how the reader fits into your network. It contains these topics: • Overview of the IF30 • Unpacking the IF30 • Learning About the IF30 •...
Chapter 1 — Getting Started Overview of the IF30 The IF30 Fixed Reader is an RFID reader that provides connectivity between tag data and an enterprise system. The IF30 Fixed Reader The IF30 Fixed Reader uses an EPCglobal Gen 2-certified IM5 Module (86x MHz RFID frequency band).
Unpacking the IF30 When you unpack the IF30, save the box and shipping material in case you need to ship or store the IF30. The reader comes with a documentation packet that includes a quick start guide and a safety and compliance statement.
This section explains the ports and LEDs on the IF30. Understanding the Front Panel Ports The IF30 front panel has four ports. To access three of the ports, you need to remove the cable access door. To remove the access door •...
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The port includes optically-isolated inputs, optically-isolated low voltage DC outputs, and access to 12 VDC. For more information on the IF30 GPIO interfaces, see “About the GPIO Interfaces” on page 72..
Chapter 1 — Getting Started Understanding the LEDs The IF30 has three LEDs that show you the operating status of the reader. LEDs IF30 LEDs LED Descriptions LED Icon LED Name Description Power Remains on after the IF30 boots. Wired LAN Flashes when a frame is transmitted or received on the Ethernet port.
Learning About the Intermec Ready-To-Work Indicator The blue Ready-to-Work Indicator shows when an application is communicating with the data collection engine (DCE) on the IF30. The next table explains the different states of the Ready- To-Work indicator. Ready-to-Work Indicator Status Descriptions...
The ports on the rear panel are used for connecting the IF30 to RFID antennas. IF30 Rear Panel Ports: This illustration shows the ports on the rear panel. The IF30 ships with antenna terminators mounted on RFID antenna ports 2, 3, and The IF30 RFID antenna ports use these connectors: •...
RFID tag IF30 in a Wired Ethernet Network:This illustration shows the IF30 in a wired Ethernet network. The IF30 sends and receives RFID tag data to the RFID server through the wired network. Configuring the IF30 (Setting the IP Address) By default, the IF30 is configured to be a DHCP client and accepts offers from any DHCP server.
Using a Communications Program You can use a communications program (such as HyperTerminal) to set the initial IP address for the IF30. After you configure the IP address, you can continue to use the communications program to set other parameters or you can use a web browser to complete the configuration.
Configuring the IF30 for an Ethernet Connection Follow this procedure to configure the IF30 for your Ethernet connection that does not use a DHCP server. If your wired network uses a DHCP server, you can skip this procedure and continue with “Connecting the IF30 to Your Network”...
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Chapter 1 — Getting Started 2 With Ethernet selected in the IF30 RFID Reader Configuration menu, press the right arrow. The Ethernet menu appears. 3 Configure these settings: DHCP Mode IP Address IP Subnet Mask IP Router (Gateway) Or, press the down arrow key to select IPv6 Configuration,...
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DHCP server. If the DHCP server supports it, this field will be used for dynamic DNS (DDNS) updates. IP address of a domain name server that the IF30 uses to resolve DNS names. IP address of a domain name server that the IF30 uses to resolve DNS names if the DNS server at DNS Address 1 is not responding.
15 minutes. Note: If you access the Internet using a proxy server, add the IF30 IP address to your Exceptions list. The Exceptions list contains the addresses that you do not want to use with a proxy server.
If you choose to activate the changes later, they will become active the next time the IF30 is booted. Note: If you made changes to RFID module settings, you need to reboot the IF30 to activate those changes.
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When you click Save/Discard Changes > Save Changes and Reboot, the IF30 copies the current configuration file to the active configuration file. The active configuration file is the file that the IF30 uses. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
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3 Verify that all your configuration changes appear in the Pending Changes list. 4 Click Save Changes and Reboot to reboot the IF30 and immediately use your new active configuration. Or, click Save Changes without Reboot. The IF30 saves the changes to its current configuration and continues to run its active configuration.
Choosing a Mounting Location You can place the IF30 horizontally or vertically on a stable surface. You can also mount the IF30 to a wall or a beam using one of these mounting bracket kits: • Mounting bracket kit (P/N 068918) •...
For help with configuring the IF30, see “Configuring the IF30 (Setting the IP Address)” on page 9. Note: If there is no DHCP server available at boot time, the IF30 will not be able to communicate on the network while searching for DHCP lease offers.
IF30 boots and the green Power LED turns The IF30 is now ready to communicate in your network. Setting the Date and Time After you have installed the IF30, you can set the date and time via the web browser interface. To set the date and time 1 Connect to the IF30 via the web browser interface.
Using the IF30 Securely You can protect the integrity and security of your data on the IF30 by using a secure web browser session (HTTPS) to access the IF30. For help, see “Using the Web Browser Interface” on page 14.
This chapter describes how to configure network settings for the IF30 and includes these topics: • Configuration Settings For Your Network • Configuring Ethernet Settings • Configuring Network Services • Configuring Security • About Certificates IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
Chapter 2 — Configuring Network Settings Configuration Settings For Your Network This chapter assumes that you are using the IF30 web browser interface to configure network settings on the IF30. For help, “Using the Web Browser Interface” on page 14.
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2 Configure the Ethernet settings. For help, see the next table. Note: Different settings appear in this screen depending on the current DHCP mode for the IF30. If you need to configure DNS/Network Services settings, such as DNS addresses or suffixes, or a SYSLOG destination, see “Configuring Network Services”...
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Sets the DHCP mode for the IF30: • Choose Always Use DHCP if you want the IF30 to get its IP address from a DHCP server. • Choose Use DHCP if IP Address is Zero if you want the IF30 to use DHCP whenever its IP address is set to 0.0.0.0.
3 Click Submit Changes to save your changes. To activate your changes, from the menu bar click Save/Discard Changes, and then click Save Changes and Reboot. For help, see “Saving Configuration Changes” on page 15. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
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IF30 uses to resolve DNS names. Enter the IP address of a domain name server that the IF30 uses to resolve DNS names if the DNS server at DNS Address 1 is not responding. Enter a domain name suffix that will be appended to DNS names that cannot be resolved.
Save Changes and Reboot. For help, see “Saving Configuration Changes” on page 15. Configuring Security The IF30 supports security features to help maintain the integrity of your secure network. You can: • enable/disable access methods. For help see the next section “Controlling Access to IF30 Menus.”...
• use a password server to maintain a list of authorized users who can configure and manage the IF30. For help, see “Setting Up Logins” on page 33. Controlling Access to IF30 Menus You can enable or disable the web browser interface (HTTP or HTTPS) depending on how you want users to be able to configure or manage the IF30.
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IF30. For help, see “Using a Communications Program” on page 10. Check this check box if you want the IF30 to reject certificates that have expired. For help, see “Rejecting Expired Certificates” on page 39.
On the IF30, you need to enable RADIUS for login authorization. When a user attempts to log in to the IF30, the user must enter a user name and password. This login is sent to the RADIUS server, which compares the login to its list of authorized logins.
Configuring the IF30 to Use a Password Server If you use a password server to manage users who can log in to this IF30, you need to tell the IF30 how to communicate with the password server and then you need to configure the password server.
Note: If you enter more than one password server, the other password servers act as backup servers. The IF30 uses the first password server (starting with Server 1) whose IP address/ DNS name and secret key are the same as the one in the list.
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Enter the user name you need to use to log in to this IF30. The user name can be from 0 to 32 characters long. If you leave the user name and password fields blank, a user will not need to log in to the IF30.
About Certificates The default server certificate on the IF30 (ValidForHTTPSONLY) supports the secure web browser interface. You can use a third-party CA to issue unique client certificates and a root certificate. Viewing Certificates You can use the web browser interface to view the certificates loaded on the IF30.
Note: If you are not using a secure web browser, you will be prompted to log in again. Click A secure session is available and log in to the IF30. If a Security Alert dialog box appears, click Yes to proceed. Repeat the above procedure.
Rejecting Expired Certificates By default, when you install a certificate the IF30 does not validate the certificate dates against the date currently set in the IF30 operating system. Follow the next procedure to set the IF30 to reject expired certificates.
This chapter explains how you can use RFID applications for the IF30 and includes these topics: • RFID Applications and the IF30 • Creating Applications for the IF30 • Configuring RFID Settings • Configuring the Data Collection Engine IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
IF30 via TCP on port 2189. Configuring RFID Settings This section explains how you use the web browser interface to change the settings for the IF30 RFID module. As you install and test applications, you can configure the RFID settings for the best system performance.
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Save Changes and Reboot. For help, see “Saving Configuration Changes” on page 15. Note: If you make changes to RFID settings, you need to reboot the IF30 to activate the changes. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual Chapter 3 — Creating and Using RFID Applications...
5. The setting is used only when the LBT Scan Enable check box is not checked. This setting is equivalent to the LBTCHANNEL BRI attribute. Description Phillips v1.19 ISO6B Generation 1 ISO6B Generation 2 EPCglobal Class 1 Gen 2 IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
Timeout Configuration Mode Enables a timeout mode. Instead of specifying the number of antenna or ID tries, you specify a timeout value. If the IF30 does not find any tags after an antenna or ID try, the reader waits for the specified time before starting the next antenna or ID try.
This setting is equivalent to the WRTRIES BRI attribute. Initialization Tries Sets the maximum number of times the reader attempts to initialize a tag. Valid range is 1 (default) to 254. This setting is equivalent to the INITTRIES BRI attribute. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
Use this setting to antennuate the antenna field strength. In some situations, full output power can cause unnecessary interference. For example, if the tag is close to the antenna, full output power might overload the tag and cause unreliable behavior. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
10 applications to use the same reader simultaneously. When your application is communicating with the DCE, the blue Intermec Ready-to-Work Indicator on the IF30 front panel turns on and stays on. For help, see “Learning About the Intermec Ready-To-Work Indicator” on page 7.
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Specifies the TCP port used for incoming EPC Reader Protocol connections to the DCE. This port number must be unique for all TCP services running on the IF30. Valid ranges is 0 to 65535. Default is 4684. received through the DCE.
Save Changes and Reboot. For help, see “Saving Configuration Changes” on page 15. 4 After the IF30 reboots, click Refresh in the browser menu. The login screen appears. 5 Enter your user name and password, and then click Login.
The DCE Configuration screen appears. 2 Click Display > Statistics. The DCE Configuration/Display Statistics screen appears with a list of DCE statistics. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual Chapter 3 — Creating and Using RFID Applications Description Time and date of the event.
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3 To save the list, click Download Statistics File and then choose File > Save As in the browser menu. Follow the prompts to save the list to your desktop PC as a .txt file. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
This chapter includes information on managing the IF30 and includes these topics: • Managing the IF30 • Using Intermec SmartSystems Foundation • Using Wavelink Avalanche • Enabling Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) • Maintaining the IF30 • Upgrading Firmware • Troubleshooting the IF30 •...
Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 Managing the IF30 There are several methods you can use to manage the IF30. You can use: • a web browser. For help, see “Using the Web Browser Interface” on page 14. This manual assumes that you are using this method for all procedures.
Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 Using Wavelink Avalanche The Wavelink Avalanche client management system uses three main components to help you easily manage your wireless network. Avalanche Component Descriptions Component Enabler Agent Console Avalanche uses a hierarchical file system organized into software packages and software collections: •...
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Enables/disables the Avalanche client management system. Specifies the IP address or DNS name of the Avalanche console. Or, leave this field blank and the IF30 sends out a broadcast request looking for any available agent. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 Enabling Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) You can access and manage the IF30 from a Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) station. Contact a representative if you need to obtain a copy of the management information base (MIB).
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Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 4 Change settings for SNMPv3. For help, see the next table. 5 Click Submit Changes to save your changes. To activate your changes, from the menu bar click Save/Discard Changes, and then click Save Changes and Reboot. For help, see “Saving Configuration Changes”...
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Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 SNMP Community Parameter Descriptions (continued) Parameter SNMPv3 Read-Write User Authentication Protocol Data Privacy Protocol IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual Description Specifies a password that provides read and write access. This password can be from 1 to 15 characters and is case sensitive.
Support. Viewing Port Statistics The Port Statistics screen shows the total number of packets and bytes the IF30 has received and transmitted since it was last booted. To view port statistics • From the menu, click Maintenance > Port Statistics. The Port Statistics screen appears.
Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 Viewing the Events Log The Events Log screen shows the events that have been logged by the IF30. These events are cleared when the IF30 loses power or is rebooted. To view the events log •...
RFID Reader. The About This IF30 RFID Reader screen appears. • You can use the LEDs to help locate a specific IF30 in your location. To locate the IF30 • On the About This IF30 RFID Reader screen, click Find This IF30.
Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 Viewing the IF30 Configuration Summary The About This IF30 RFID Reader screen includes a summary that shows basic parameter settings. Parameters that have been changed from the default configuration appear in blue.
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Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 To view all IF30 configuration settings • In the About This IF30 RFID Reader Screen, scroll down and click Display All Configuration Settings. The screen refreshes and shows a list of complete settings.
Discard Changes screen appears. 2 Click Restore Factory Defaults. A list of parameters that will be changed appears in the Pending Changes list. 3 Click Save Changes and Reboot. The IF30 reboots and the default configuration is restored. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
Intermec. Be sure to contact your Intermec RFID system consultant before upgrading. Make sure the IF30 is connected to a reliable AC power source before you upgrade the firmware. Do not cycle power to the IF30 during the upgrade. If AC power is lost during the upgrade, the IF30 may require factory repair.
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The Rebooting screen appears, the IF30 reboots, and the upgrade begins. This process can take several minutes. Do not cycle power to the IF30 during the upgrade. When the upgrade process is complete, the IF30 reboots. To cancel the upgrade, click Discard Pending Changes.
Chapter 4 — Managing, Upgrading, and Troubleshooting the IF30 Troubleshooting the IF30 This section includes lists of problems and possible solutions. Problems While Working With RFID Many problems you may encounter when working with your RFID system can be solved by carefully checking the RFID settings and changing them accordingly.
2 Open a HyperTerminal session to the IF30, and verify that you did not enable web browser access in the Security screen. 3 If you access the Internet through a proxy server, be sure you have added the IP address of the IF30 to the Exceptions list.
• What were you doing when the error occured? • What error message did you see? • Can you reproduce the problem? • What version of the IF30 and RFID software are you using? For help, see “Viewing the About This IF30 RFID Reader Screen” on page 62.
This chapter explains how to access the IF30 general purpose input/output (GPIO) interfaces and how to connect industrial controls such as motion sensors or indicator lamps to the IF30 Fixed Reader. This chapter includes these topics: • About the GPIO Interfaces •...
Accessing the GPIO Interfaces You can access the GPIO interfaces through the control port on the front panel of the IF30. The control port uses a standard 25- pin serial cable. For port pin assignments, see “Port Pin Assignments” on page 82.
IF30 Powered Input This is the simplest way to connect a control to an IF30 input interface. If the external control device is a switch, you can connect one side of the switch to an IF30 +Input pin, and the other side of the switch to one of the +12 VDC sources, then ground the corresponding -Input pin.
This method is used to minimize noise induced by distance or grounding. The isolated input avoids induced noise by referencing a remote input to chassis return of the IF30. The illustration below shows how to wire in this method. +Input...
Using the Output Interfaces Each IF30 output interface is optically isolated, polarized, and rated for 5 to 48 VDC at 0.25A. All IF30 outputs include internal thermal fuses that trip if the load exceeds 0.25A, and the fuses are self-recovering once the excessive load is removed. The high and low contacts are exposed and isolated from the ground.
Chapter 5 — Using the IF30 GPIO Interfaces Switching the High Side Using IF30 Power In this example, an external indicator lamp with a 0.25A maximum current is connected to the -Output and Ground pins, and the corresponding +Output pin is connected to the +12 VDC source.
-Output and Ground pins as shown below. +Output - Output Ground Switching the High Side With External Power IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual Chapter 5 — Using the IF30 GPIO Interfaces External power 5-48 VDC External indicator lamp...
Driving a DC Relay to Control an AC Load While the IF30 outputs are designed to switch DC loads, they can drive relays that control AC loads. The illustration on the next page shows how to connect such a system to an IF30 output. + 12V + Output...
Specifications This appendix includes physical and electrical specifications for the IF30 and information about the port pin assignments. IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual...
Write range Transmitter type Frequency stability Number of antennas Antenna port isolation Antenna connectors IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual Appendix A — Specifications EPCglobal Class 1 Gen 2 ISO 18000-6B Generation 1 ISO 18000-6B Generation 2 Phillips v1.19 865-868 MHz, 869 MHz, or 915 MHz Minimum: 28.5 dBm...
Serial Port Pin 9 Serial Port Pin Assignments Ethernet Port Ethernet Port Pin Assignments Note: The IF30 does not support power over Ethernet (POE). IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual Appendix A — Specifications Pin 1 Description Active Polarity Receive data (RXD)
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Index About This IF30 RFID Reader screen, AC power port described, location, access via menus, controlling, Allow External EPC Connection setting, Allow Service Password check box, Always Use DHCP setting, antenna firing sequence, for RFID, described, ANTTRIES equivalent, applications configuring data collection engine,...
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Enabling Autoconfiguration, for IPv6, EPC TCP Port setting, EPCglobal Class 1 Gen 2 certification, tags, choosing in RFID Module Settings, Ethernet, IF30 in wired network, illustrated, port described, pin assignments, settings, configuring with web browser interface, troubleshooting problems, Ethernet port...
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IF30, Maintenance menu About this IF30 RFID Reader screen, configuration summary, events log, viewing, port statistics, viewing, using LEDs to locate the IF30, managing the IF30 defaults, restoring, firmware, upgrading, methods, SmartSystems Foundation, SNMP, using securely,...
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Reject Expired Certificates check box, 32, RFID antenna firing sequence, described, antenna port locations, applications, how to develop, IF30 settings, described, module, configuring, IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual RFID (continued) RFID Module screen, illustrated, specifications, troubleshooting problems, safety information, Saving Configuration Changes,...
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Intermec Product Support, calling, port statistics, viewing, RFID problems, Unpacking the IF30, IF30 Fixed Reader User’s Manual Unselect Tries setting, UNSELTRIES equivalent, upgrade files, where to find, Upgrade Software screen, illustrated, upgrading firmware, Use DHCP if IP Address is Zero...
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